Thailand Natural Attractions
Thailand lies at the heart of SE Asia; roughly the size of Texas with approximately 198,000 square mile.

Botanical Gardens

Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens Located in Mae Sa Valley just outside of Chiang Mai, Queen Sirikit Botanic Gardens functions as a center for botanical study and research of Thai Flora. Covering an area of 2,500 acres, this immense botanical complex features a variety of flora from northern Thailand as well as exotic species from SE Asia and around the world. The facility includes a include Botanical Museum, an orchidarium where more than 400 species of orchids found in Thailand are grown, a closed greenhouse for exotic plant species which come from temperate climates and a greenhouse complex featuring plants from tropical rainforests. There is also a choice of walking trails available including one that features indigenous Thai plants and local Medicinal herbs.

Bhubing Palace and Gardens The winter residence for the Royal family during seasonal visits to the people in northern Thailand, Bhubing Palace is a beautiful estate located in close proximity to the Doi Suthep Temple and pagoda near Chiang Mai. Prominently featured is the beautiful Rose Garden featuring exotic cultivars, the Water Reservoir which is surrounded with landscaped beds of temperate flowering plants and the Fern Garden. A wonderful place for photography, Bhubing Palace and Gardens is open to the public from April to December.

Mae Fah Luang Gardens Located in the mountains about 30 minutes by car from Chiang Rai, these gardens are part of the Doi Tung development project. Covering an area of 9 acres, the gardens consist of a rock garden, a water garden, a palm garden and an ornamental plant exhibit. Featured are temperate ornamental flowers that thrive in high mountains such as begonias, snapdragons, delphiniums and hollyhocks. The gardens are beautifully landscaped and are crisscrossed with meandering streams and fountains. At the center of the garden, stands a magnificent sculpture of children standing on top of each other. The famous sculpture is named "Continuity ". Take time for a leisurely stroll along the flowerbeds; enjoy the lovely panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and afterwards for sample some coffee or tea on the open-air terrace of the café.

Mae Fah Luang Arboretum At an elevation of 4500 feet above sea level, this arboretum was developed on the slopes of Doi Chang Mob on land that was once one of the largest opium fields in the Golden Triangle. The deceased Princess Mother was an ardent conservationist and it was due to her efforts that the formerly denuded slopes of the mountains in this area have been reforested. Numerous varieties of hydrangeas, begonias, azaleas, rhododendrons, fuchsias, geraniums and wild orchids have been planted on this 10-hectare site along with many trees difficult to find in Thailand. There are spectacular panoramic views of the mountains of the Golden Triangle from different vantage points along the walkways that circle the arboretum.

Natural History Attractions
There are over 137 National and historical parks in Thailand. Below is a brief description of some of the protected areas not covered in our tour descriptions.

Kaeng Krachan National Park Situated in western half of Petchaburi Province in Southern Thailand, Kaeng Krachan is in close proximity to the popular resort town of Hua Hin. Thailand's largest park, Kaeng Krachan encompasses an area of 1120 square miles and consists of dense rainforests, limestone peaks, waterfalls and numerous caves and has some of the most spectacular and wildest scenery in the country. The enormous Kaeng Krachan dam has produced a large reservoir that is a popular stopover for migratory birds and the park is home to a rich and diverse wildlife. The area is especially popular with trekkers.

Khao Sok National Park Surrounded by jungle-clad mountains rising to over 3,300 feet, Khao Sok is a very large park consisting of mostly virgin rainforest. Located in Southern Thailand, the park is in close proximity to the international resort destination of Phuket. Khao Sok is a sanctuary for wildlife populations of elephants, bison, languor monkeys, Asiatic wild dogs, the exotic and flamboyant hornbill birds and such wild cats as the tiger and, leopard. Recently discovered in the park is the world's largest flower, Rafflesia (known in Thai as bua phatetsy), measuring 2.6 feet wide. This exotic flower occurs in only a few places in the tropics.

Khao Yai National Park Khao Yai lies about 125 miles northeast of Bangkok and is the oldest national park in Thailand. The park is comprised of broadleaf evergreen forests and mixed deciduous trees, with grasslands and scrub as secondary growth and it's highest peaks, rising to over 4,00 feet above sea level. During the cool season, many trees and shrubs come into flower and numerous wild orchids may be observed. Various wild animals reside in Khao Yai including many wild cats, pigs and bears and the park is home to about 200 elephants. Among the most commonly seen animals are pig-tailed macaques and two species of gibbons

Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary World Heritage-demarcated Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary and the adjoining Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary comprise an area of unsurpassable beauty and contains one of the largest undisturbed forests in all of Southeast Asia. The small and remote village of Umphang, the jumping off point for most trekking adventures and expeditions, lies in Central Thailand about 100 miles south of the city of Mae Sot in Tak Province. Within the protected forests, there are numerous caves, waterfalls, fast flowing rivers and streams and is a paradise for the intrepid traveler. Within the region, the Karen Hilltribe people still maintain their traditional way of life using elephants as the primary means of transportation. Whitewater rafting and river tubing are very popular activities in the rainy season.